Kingsport woman runs out of gas on stolen mower

The blotter is derived from recent incident reports and central dispatch records of local police agencies.

Hawkins County Sheriff's Office

Aug. 23

In Whitesburg, a man reported that his neighbor was swinging a metal pipe at his dog and later swerved his truck to nearly hit him. When confronted about the incidents a fight broke out, ending when the suspect's father grabbed a shotgun and told everyone to leave. His son, the instigator, was arrested for assault.

Aug. 26

Police were alerted to several "threatening notes" that had been left on the door of a church. Contents of the messages, which were not specified in an incident report, were irritating some members and "causing them not to want to return to church."

Kingsport Police Department

Aug. 23

Robbery was reported at the Dollar General on West Sullivan Street, where a cashier had spotted a man stealing items. When confronted, he allegedly claimed to have a gun, then pushed the employee and began "running around the store." Upon police arrival, he was still on scene but was not found to be armed. The stolen items — Jolly Rancher drink mix and hair clippers — were recovered, while the suspect was booked into jail for assault and theft.

Aug. 28

A woman reported that as she was returning to her car in the parking lot at Target, she noticed a BMW parked beside her vehicle. A man behind the wheel was "actively and openly masturbating," according to her account, but upon realizing he had been spotted, he sped away. The complainant snapped a photo of his license tag and provided it to police.

Sullivan County Sheriff's Office

Aug. 29

A fire fully engulfed an unoccupied residence on Ridge Road. Investigators learned power to the structure had previously been turned off, while witnesses saw a vehicle fleeing the scene. An arson investigation is continuing.

Aug. 29

Deputies responded to a Kingsport home to deal with an increasingly erratic neighbor. In the latest incident, according to the complainant, the suspect kept beating on the door, then hopped on their mower and rode away. Police found her around the block, where the stolen lawn tractor had run out of gas. She explained that she took the Craftsman "because she felt she needed to," then told the officer to go ahead and arrest her. She was booked into jail on a charge of larceny.